Review Fix chats with The Bad Think’s Michael Marquart, who discusses his latest album, “Sleep.†Having worked with A Flock of Seagulls and David Bowie during his career, Marquart is no stranger to success. Discussing the creative process behind his newest work, Marquart also talks about his goals for the future and how he’d like his music to affect the world.
Review Fix: When did you know you wanted to be a musician?
Michael Marquart: At a very early age. My mother has a picture of me with my first drum around my neck. According to the date, I was three. It had a paper drum head and I broke it with the first swing of the stick. I started taking drum lessons after that at the age of 5.
Review Fix: How is this album different from your other work?
Marquart: As a musician I need to keep moving forward, (whatever that means). Albums take on a personality of their own as they get worked out, and I think the songs relate to each other in a way as well, even if it wasn’t planned that way. This one is a little more aggressive than some of the others.
Review Fix: What do you think you learned through this process?
Marquart: That’s a good question. I’m not really sure. I just keep writing and recording, writing and recording…get up and do it all over again. I’m already working on the next album.
Review Fix: How would you describe your sound to someone who’s never heard your music?
Marquart: My albums are all different. The first one is pretty heavy, the second is more about the lyrics, the third is a concept album. The fourth is a double album and the new one “sleep†is kind of a combination. Jason Elgin mixed this album and gave it, more of a “in your face†vibe, which I love. I look forward to him mixing the next one. Generally, the music ranges from classical to country to heavy metal. Something for everyone.
Review Fix: What was it like working with Jason Elgin?
Marquart: I loved working with him. He went the extra mile for me to make sure this record sounded like it was suppose to sound. There was never a change to small or too hard for him, and was always will to experiment. We had a very open line of communication that made the whole process quite fun.
Review Fix: How was “On and On” written? What was the creative process for it?
Marquart: It was the last song recorded. The album was pretty much done and getting ready to go to Jason for mixing when I came up with the idea for the song. It was written in 10 minutes. I really loved the song and wanted to include it on this record, so I scrambled to get it done in time. I flew the voodoo man (Ralph Bruner) in to do the leads and Mark Woerpel to do all the other guitars. This track is the only one I don’t play any guitar at all.
Review Fix: What song on the album do you think is most indicative of what you want to accomplish in music?
Marquart: Don’t leave me out. My wife thought it was about her, but it is really about my personal relationship with music itself. We have had a very long and volatile relationship through out the years. Sometimes I hate her. Then sometimes I love her.
Review Fix: How do you want your music to affect people?
Marquart: Emotionally. I want people that hear my music to feel something deep down on an emotional level, whether its happiness or sadness, pain or euphoria, love or envy, or simply just gratitude. For Gods sake! Just feel something.
Review Fix: What’s next?
Marquart: The next album, of course. In the meantime we plan on doing some touring.
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